When exiting Daerim Station on subway lines 2 and 7 in southwestern Seoul, an unusual scene generated by the fusion of Korean and Chinese culture appears. Hot pot and lamb skewers, which have become increasingly popular among Koreans in recent years, are sold at large restaurants with bright Chinese signs. Chinese sauces, pantry necessities, and snacks abound on the shelves of little shops. On the street, people speak Mandarin, Korean, or Yanbian dialect Korean. Yanbian has China’s largest ethnic Korean community. Often dubbed as a little Chinatown in Seoul, this neighborhood tells a story abo…

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